archives

Last Sunday, we remember, Jesus proclaimed good news: “The reign of God is at hand.” The reign of God is at hand. How often do we think about that, what that means? The reign of God, a time when all injustices would be eliminated. Everyone will have a full chance for a human life. Resources of the whole earth would be made available to every person on the earth, instead of a few having so much and so many having so little.

The reign of God, a time of justice, and then from that would flow a time of peace, where swords would be turned into plowshares and war would be no more. What a marvelous thing to think about, how God would bring into fullness the reign of God throughout the whole of our world. Could it ever happen? Well, of course, but we also have to remember what Jesus said last week in our gospel lesson: “Change your lives,” live in a different way, live according to the values of the reign of God, and then the reign of God will happen.

John Allen is on assignment this week in Texas, researching an upcoming feature story on Catholicism in the Lone Star state. He will not be posting daily updates this week, but will have his regular "All Things Catholic" column this Friday.